j. loves {her} style: The Original Boho

Remember when I tied a scarf around my head and called it fashion? Well, I got that idea from my favorite boho beauty, who also happens to be my bestie. This is Sasha Rae and I will always love her style. Sash is one of those people who just naturally pulls stuff off. I mean, this girl was rocking the lace bralettes and band tanks waaay before they were cool. But she always looked cool doing it, if you know what I mean. While she certainly has a natural style and is, of course, drawn to items that reflect it, she is probably the most thoughtful shopper I have ever known. She may actually be my shopping opposite. Where I base decisions on emotion and immediate satisfaction, Sasha weighs the pros and cons of each and every purchase, does a complete wardrobe inventory to determine the item's need and has likely placed it on hold every three days for the past two weeks. 

In the end, she winds up with a perfectly curated and unique wardrobe that is 100% true to her personal style. Perhaps she may be on to something...

j.

The Head Scarf

scarf {Winners, I think} - dress {Target} - sunnies {Urban Outfitters} - sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

Let's talk about the head scarf for a minute. I'll be real honest here folks and admit that I needed to wash my hair. Instead of doing that, though, I decided to try out tying a scarf around my head like a karate kid hippy (both names that I was called throughout the day). I should rewind for a hot second and tell you that I totally completely ripped this look off of my bestie, Sasha Rae. She wore it (under the same circumstances, I should add) last weekend in Vancouver. If people's lack of commentary about the scarf is any indication of who wore it best, than I am in trouble. The commentary wasn't negative, in fact it definitely had positive undertones and top notes, but the main theme had sort of a confused yet amused vibe. I have never worn a piece of clothing that has garnered this much attention before. I was offered scarves by two sales people in two separate stores, one of which was a bookstore and every person who saw me mentioned it, pointed at it or made a joke about it within minutes, often seconds, of seeing me. 

People's reaction to the head scarf was definitely much stronger than I ever anticipated and while I had thought that I might feel self conscious about it, I decided to own it instead. I really enjoyed wearing it and basking in the little alter-ego that it created for me. I also have to say that as a bangs girl for many consecutive years, it was a welcome relief from what usually happens in the summer (read: sweaty brow).

j.

To My Bestie, On Her Birthday!

photos of my favorite flower child that I creeped off her facebook...

Happy happy birthday Sasha Rae! You are truly one of a kind. We have spent most of our birthdays together over the last ten years so I am very sad to be missing this one. I hope today is YOUR day and you spend it with the people you love doing what you love to do. I will be there in spirit today and this weekend!

You inspire me on a daily basis, whether we're together or apart. I remember the first time I saw you, at one of those orientation things for us babies in residence, almost ten years ago. Your hair was long, blonde and unruly (the unruly part hasn't changed). You were wearing itty bitty denim cutoffs (still do) and a tank - you looked like a little surfer girl. Even at eighteen, you had a sense of confidence and self assurance, without ever being full of yourself, that was admirable. You knew who you were and I knew I wanted to be your friend. And friends we became. Best friends. Who did EVERYTHING together!

We have been through many things together, the great, good, bad and ugly and each and every one of those experiences has only strengthened our friendship. You are my friend. My family. My person. Now and always Sash. I love you and miss you more than you could know!

Happy birthday beautiful. xo

J.

Eleanor Lambert: Fashion's First Lady

A few weeks ago, I got a text from Sasha Rae, my bestie who lives in Victoria. All it said was "I have a new style icon: Jane Birkin. She's a babe from the 60's. The Birkin bag is named after her. Who's you style icon?". She does this from time to time, suggest an idea for a blog post. Usually her ideas are really great. She also sends me outfit photos of herself when she's proud of a look. She's cute like that.

So, anyways her text got me thinking about who I look to for style inspiration. It was harder than I thought, as I didn't have anyone come to mind immediately. Then, in my PR class we were asked to write a press release on Eleanor Lambert. Having never heard of her until that point (embarrassing now that I know who she is), I had some research to do.

Eleanor Lambert was known as the godmother of fashion PR, having single-handedly making New York City the fashion mecca of the world by taking over the Paris dressmakers’ best-dressed-women poll in 1940 and organizing a biannual Press Week of Seventh Avenue in New York City. Both of these achievements live on today, as Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List and New York Fashion Week. Always searching for ways to integrate art with fashion and convince the world that the American garment industry was equal to its international counterparts, Lambert founded both the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Council for Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). 

After learning all of this, I had developed a bona fide girl crush.  This woman was responsible for making the fashion industry what it is today. She often didn't take payment for her services, doing it for, one can only assume, the love of her craft. Eleanor Lambert was an inspiration and force within the fashion industry until the day she died in 2003, at age 100.

While I am inspired by her business savvy more than her personal style, the woman obviously knew how to dress. Known for her turbans and over-sized jewelry, many people called her obscure. I call her brilliant. I respect a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it and that is exactly what Eleanor Lambert did.

j.

Birthday Suit

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. I wasn't expecting much of anything since I knew I had two classes in the later afternoon and evening. My really good friend, Sesame, invited me to meet her for tea in the morning at this tea shop (that hails from my home and native land) that she had been wanting to show me for a while. This sounded like the perfect way to start out my 27th and that was just the beginning. Thanks to Sesame for making my day really special!!!

Some serious tea business going on up there. When I walked in, we had the whole place to ourselves and the lady working there also wished me a happy birthday. She had already pulled their selection of earl greys and had a sample of a delicious hibiscus iced tea waiting for me. Sesame had clearly laid the ground work. Most people do shots of alcohol on their birthday, I do shots of tea. I'm hardcore like that.

The fun didn't stop there. Next, we found our way to a great little restaurant called The Hummus Place. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared.

Last but certainly not least, we ended with a red velvet cupcake from Molly's Cupcakes (who won Cupcake Wars btw...).

black tee {Zara} - necklace {Banana Republic} - grey skirt {Mexx} - black leather bracelet {NYC Chinatown} -

 beaded bracelet {gift via Victoria Chinatown} - NYC clutch {gift} - silver gladiators {Aldo}

It was a really great way to spend my day before having to go to two classes. Although, after going to Photoshop I was so excited to start the projects that it felt like another birthday gift of it's own. I'm a nerd like that. Ending the night with Fashion History, which I am least excited about this semester. I just find it a bit heavy and dry, although I should mention that my prof is the wackiest, most eccentric lady I have ever seen. So that should make for some interesting stories at the very least.

A quick thank you to my Mom for that amazing NYC clutch you see above. She very stealthily went back and bought it for me after I drooled over it in a store while she was here visiting. And one last thank you to my bestie, Sasha Rae, for my bracelet that came in my amazing birthday package. You know me too well...I love it.

j.

J. Loves {Her} Style: Boho Beauty

Meet Sasha Rae. She's from British Columbia, Canada. She is my bestie. And I love her style. Read on to find out why!

 

My two favorite hipsters. Arguably the only ones I like...(I kid, but not really). Yes, that's Sasha's boyfriend. Yes, he's in a band. Yes, they are both ridiculously good looking. But in that effortless, we don't give a hoot kinda way, that just makes everyone all the more envious.

Since Sash and I are living on opposite ends of the continent, we make up for it by daily creeping on each other through various forms of social media. She was at a music festival in Canmore, Alberta this past weekend and Instagrammed (is this a legit verb yet?...I hope so) the above photos. Not only did I creep them, I "liked" them all instantly and, taking my creeping to a whole new level, asked her to send them to me so I could blog about them.

I have had the pleasure of knowing this beauty for nearly ten years and I have got to watch as her style transformed and ultimately grew as she did. Sasha has always had a defined style, from surfer chic when I first met her to what I like to call urban boho - the style that I think she has been honing for the past several years. The thing about style is that, in order to effortlessly have it, I think you need to know yourself and be confident in presenting who you really are to the world. This is why Sasha has always had style. Even though it has changed with her tastes and preferences, she has always known "who she is" - one of her most admirable qualities.

She is the perfect balance of bohemian. She's free spirited yet shows restraint. Wildly creative and fiercely intelligent. Always polished - but not too polished - and never sloppy. Rarely does she brush her hair but always seems to have those perfect bedhead/beach waves that most girls spend hours striving for. She is laid-back yet pain-stakingly detail oriented, all at the same time. And her style has come to reflect all of these things in a beautifully cohesive way.

I better stop this love fest now and simply just say this: Sasha Rae is an urban bohemian and I love her and her style to bits.

j.

Dots, Stripes & Challenges

One of my bestest friends was talking to me about my blog a little while ago and she told me that she always enjoyed the outfits I posted, but she was ready to see more. She, in a way, challenged me to step outside my comfort zone (as she often does). She wanted to see me take more chances. And so I put this outfit together with her in mind. While I love it, looking at the photos I realize it is still very safe. A fashion blogger (I use this term loosely) mixing polka dots with stripes?!? Whoa. Shocker. Anyways, this is what I wore to that photography course last weekend and to hang out with Sesame at the Hester Street Market/China Town/SOHO (we like to maximize our time together).

polka-dot blouse {sample sale} - striped skirt & sunnies {H&M} - red bracelet {Burkman Bros.} -

yellow tote {Fossil via Brooklyn Flea} - bronze gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

Speaking of challenges, I had an inspiring conversation with my supervisor at Bloomie's today. She asked me what I wanted to do with my fashion education once I complete it and although I don't know the answer to that yet, it got me thinking. She told me to make the most of this internship and gain as much experience as I possibly can out of it, which I was already consciously doing. She did mention this little 'ol blog here and complimented my writing and way of expression, which was really nice to hear. I have surprised myself since starting this how much I love writing. At the end of our conversation, she offered me one piece of advice. To challenge myself. Perfectly simple. Simply perfect.

I feel lucky to have such an amazing internship opportunity. I am taking the advice I received today to heart. All I have to say is, challenge accepted.

j.

Just Rocks

I had a difficult time deciding upon a name for this post. I had many ideas. All of them with one thing in common. The word rocks. Black, Blue and Rock. Cobalt Rocks. I Love Rocks. Love Rocks. Then I thought, just rocks. And so I took my thought quite literally and ended up at just that. Just what, you ask? Just Rocks!

(haven't you been paying attention?)

cobalt blue blazer {Banana Republic} - black & white geometric tunic {Mexx} - black leggings {Aritzia} -

black biker boots {Paradise Boutique} - bracelet {Palm Desert street market} - rock ring {Urban Outfitters}

Clearly I am out of the nerd closet after declaring my unhealthy obsession love for rocks above. So I might as well continue with this (surprisingly not) embarassing confession. Because I really do love them. I suppose you could say I collect rocks. It's my favorite thing to do at the beach. Or anywhere else rocks can be found. Such as, rivers, forests, even parking lots. Most of my friends know of my fondness for rocks. So being the gems that they are, they will often keep their eyes open for any treasures they know I would love. Sasha once brought me back a rock she found in Nicaragua. It was, and still is to this day, the most beautiful rock I have ever seen. It is rectangular in shape and no bigger than an eraser. It is so smooth to the touch and even creamier to the eye. It has the most magical pattern of vivid orange and creamy white swirling around each other to create the most pleasing marbled effect. I will show it to you one day. Obviously I still have it. Along with many other beautiful rocks. It's just that they are still in their box. Because they made the move, of course. What? Doesn't everyone have a box full of rocks when they move?

Anyways. Needless to say, but I'll do it just for kicks, when I saw this ring in Urban Outfitters I just had to make it mine. It was more than I usually spend on a single item. But it is a double ring. And I've wanted one of these for a long time. And this one has rocks on it!!!

2 finger holes + 3 rocks = 1 kicka** ring = Merry Christmas to me!

Do you also buy yourself Christmas presents? (please tell me I'm not the only one!)

j.

Saying Goodbye.

I said this many times this past weekend. To my best friends.  My condo. All of my furniture. And most of my belongings (except my clothes – who do you think I am?).  I had to say goodbye to Victoria. Where I have lived for the past 8 years. Where I went to school. Met my best friends. Fell in love for the first time. And even though I moved there after high school, it’s where I grew up.  It was my choice to go to school there. And to stay there once I graduated. It was something that was completely my own. It was, in the truest sense of the word, my home. While Calgary will always have my heart because my family still lives there. Victoria has my soul. So the biggest goodbye of all goes to my home. Goodbyes suck.

I knew it was coming for quite some time. I was ready for it. That is, until it came. My eyeballs would not stop leaking the day before I left. And the day I left. At home. At Sasha’s. At a restaurant (classy, I know). In the taxi. You get the idea. I know that I am going to be back to visit (and who knows what the future holds). And I know that distance does not stand a chance against the friendships I have in Victoria. But even so. All I can think of is two words. Goodbyes Suck.

Sash and I at Ferris' Oyster Bar on my last night in Vic. I actually managed to find a photo that did not show

 the alarmingly obvious bags under my eyes. Success!

I promise a palm tree filled post tomorrow. Live from Palm Springs.

j.

Vintage Plaid Meet Bicycle Tee

Remember when I bragged about this thrifted blazer being the perfect fit? You should. It was only yesterday. Well I thought I better put it into an outfit right away. I am all about separates. I hardly ever wear a matching suit. I hardly wear suits at all. But you get the idea.

Sasha Rae and I went for a walk along the ocean. In November I might add. And I'm leaving this place why? Anyways. It did cool off quickly as the sun set. But check out that sunset. It looks like the sky is on fire.

peach cobbler cashmere scarf {gift} - birdie necklace {gift, Violette Veldor} - button earrings {handmade} -

vintage plaid blazer {thrifted} - bicycle tee {Ricki's) - green suede purse {Esprit} - dark denim skinnies {Jacob} -

 brown peter pan boots {Aldo}

I feel an addiction forming. The best kind of addiction. A shopping addiction. But I already have one of those. What am I blabbing about then? A thrifting addiction. A shopping specialization addiction. The worst kind of best addicition. Awesome.

j.

Tarot Love: Be a Creative Rebel

I should warn you all. I love me some tarot cards. Fairy cards. Palm readers. Tea leaf readers. You get the gist. So last night I went to Z's house with Sasha. We had a good ol' girls time. Then I spotted the tarot cards. Osho Zen Tarot cards. The night got even better.

The first card I pulled was "The Rebel". Z got excited. She said it was a powerful card. A Major Arcana. This is what "The Rebel" card means:

The powerful and authoritative figure in this card is clearly the master of his own destiny. On his shoulder is an emblem of the sun, and the torch he holds in his right hand symbolizes the light of his own hard-won truth. Whether he is wealthy or poor, the Rebel is really an emperor because he has broken the chains of society's repressive conditioning and opinions. He has formed himself by embracing all the colors of the rainbow, emerging from the dark and formless roots of his unconscious past and growing wings to fly into the sky. His very way of being is rebellious - not because he is fighting against anybody or anything, but because he has discovered his own true nature and is determined to live in accordance with it. The eagle is his spirit animal, a messenger between earth and sky. The Rebel challenges us to be courageous enough to take responsibility for who we are and to live our truth.

Wow. Un-freaking-believable. Read my About Me section to find out why.

I have a small problem. I can't pick only one card. I had to do it again. Besides, I didn't ask a specific question the first time. So I declared The Rebel card my "overall card". And then I focused on my question.

What am I looking for?

Guess what my next card was? Creativity. Perfect.

Sasha picked next. But before she did, she shuffled the deck. And as she was sitting there holding the cards. Two fell out. The Rebel and Creativity. Un-freaking-believable. Then, as if that's not enough. Her first card? Creativity. OK already. Message received. Loud and clear.

Whether you're a believer or a skeptic. Tarot cards are fun. No matter what, they are pieces of sage advice.

I think I may have found my tenth mantra...stay tuned.

j.

Current Tunes

On me: black blazer {Mexx} - striped dress {Lark & Sparrow} - tan boots {The Bay}

On Sasha: tan fringe top {Lark & Sparrow}

I apologize for being MIA this week. It was my last week of work. I work(ed) at a school. For those of you who didn't know. I had worked there since it opened two years ago. I met so many amazing people. Especially the students. Young people are inspiring. They inspire me to do better. To be better. It was an emotional day yesterday. Draining. I was touched to see the impact (however small) I have made at the school. In people's lives. I really did feel honoured.

Anyways. Not that I'm making excuses. But now that I'm done work, I will have lots more time for all of you. You're all dying from excitement. I know. I wanted to share with you some new music from an incredibly talented local band. They are Current Swell. The lead singer, Scott, is Sasha Rae's boyfriend. They have been together for five years. They are both ridiculously good looking. And really nice. And both extremely talented. It's unfair really. 

Anyways. We went to their CD release concert last night at the McPherson Playhouse in Victoria. It was incredible. Here a few pics I snapped. Like a true groupie.

This is the original trio of Current Swell. Scott, Dave and Lou. I remember the first time I saw Current Swell play. It was at the campus pub at UVic. About six years ago. Sasha had her eye on Scott from the start. I had no idea how many shows I would be dragged to after that night. Lou left the band a couple years ago when he and his wife (my friend Rach) had a baby. The cutest baby. Ever. Lou came on stage last night to sing a special song. A song for their friend who passed away a couple years ago.

Two words.

Trombone. Swagger.

Enough said.

This is Scott jammin' away. I know you want to listen to one of my fave songs from their last album. Check it out here. You should also check their website so you can buy their new CD. Long Time Ago. Because it's awesome.

See you all soon (I Promise).

j.